continued  The funds are part of a statewide initiative to cut carbon emissions. The Cuomo administration eventually would like to see 3,000 charging stations installed all over New York.

There are currently 10 public charging locations in the Capital District, including at new ShopRite grocery stores in the area. Eventually, 35 stations will be installed at 15 different locations through the NYSERDA initiative.

For the foreseeable future, the owners of Tri City Rentals will be paying any electricity costs associated with the stations so patrons can stop and charge their hybrid or electric cars for free. It can take up to 6 hours to fully charge some electric car models, and the stations are compatible with all existing electric cars.

The stations are connected to the ChargePoint Network, and car owners can visit a website or use a smartphone to reserve a time. The system is meant to cut down on energy theft, ensure safety for customers and make finding time to charge a car more convenient. Customers can pay a one time fee of $25 to purchase a Chargepass swipe card to use the stations or make a reservation using a credit card, but they will not be charged for the time.